On murders, the trend is holding up. The county’s first murder last year was not reported until December; this year’s first one was last week with the stabbing death of 43-year-old Kim Barnum in her Washington Township apartment. A 42-year-old man was arrested in the case, which authorities view as domestic-related.

The double-digit drop, based on the 2010 statistics, is especially noteworthy because it comes amid a virtually stable comparable crime rate statewide, and a murder rate that exploded by 16 percent across New Jersey.

County Prosecutor Sean Dalton’s office has several good programs that deserve a share of credit. But even the prosecutor himself acknowledges that old-fashioned policing, such as good arrest and clearance rates on crimes like simple assault, plays one of the most significant roles in limiting the more violent offenses.

“Feet on the street,” as the saying goes, are important. In the face of budget challenges, local officials must to be careful to avoid watering down a town’s patrol presence. Some South Jersey towns that have needed to lay off officers have moved non-patrol personnel back into beats; it’s an effective way to ensure safety even when cuts must be made.

Not all of the UCR data for Gloucester County is good. Non-violent crime was up by 9 percent, leading to a 7 percent overall jump in county crime over 2009. On the positive side, these are mainly property crimes. Upticks in these offenses can often be reversed with town watches, concentrated patrols in “hot spots” and extra measures by citizens, such as locking vehicles.

Overall, the stats should make residents feel pretty confident about their personal safety.